Media statement re: Midland Academies Trust
A spokesperson for the Midland Academies Trust said, “Over the last few months the Midland Academies Trust board has been reflecting on how best to support pupils, staff, and our communities during the next stage of the Trust's journey.
“The thinking of the Trust board has been strongly influenced by current government policy which is driving small trusts like the Midland Academies Trust to join larger organisations. Our thinking has also been influenced most recently by the developing relationship between United Learning, a long-established academy trust, with whom we are working on the transfer of Nuneaton Academy.
“The Midland Academies Trust was set up by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College at the direct request of the Department for Education so that this high performing college could provide support to struggling secondary schools in Nuneaton. The clear strategy for the Trust has always been that it would remain a small locally based ‘family’ of schools.
“In the context of current government policy, the board has determined that the best option for the Trust is to transfer all its academies into a larger, high performing trust. Following a careful selection process the preferred sponsor, subject to due diligence, has been identified as United Learning.
“United Learning shares a similar ethos and values based on creating successful futures for pupils and supports the strong local identity and unique character of all the schools within its national group.
“The board is deeply proud of the impact of the Trust within each of its four academies – Nuneaton Academy, Hartshill Academy, George Eliot Academy and Heath Lane Academy. There have been significant improvements in pupil behaviour and personal development, the content and delivery of the curriculum, the quality of the estate and the successful progression of our pupils into further education and work. All our academies are now at capacity for entry into Year 7.
During this time, our achievements have included:
- Securing funding from the government’s national School Rebuilding Programme for the redevelopment of Hartshill Academy due for completion this summer.
- Improving the estate and facilities at Nuneaton Academy through a partial redevelopment.
- Securing the recognition of Heath Lane Academy and George Eliot Academy as Ofsted rated ‘Good’ schools.
- Leading Nuneaton Academy to achieve the second most improved Progress 8 results in Warwickshire, and Heath Lane Academy to achieve the most improved results in Leicestershire.
- Becoming the first Trust in the UK to achieve the National Quality in Careers Standard for high quality careers education, information advice and guidance, at ‘Gold’ level, for all four academies simultaneously.
- Receiving the first Education Endowment Foundation-funded pilot of Direct Instruction in the UK.
- Enrolling record pupil numbers and receiving the highest ever demand for places.
- Becoming founding members of the Nuneaton Education Alliance and securing improved provision and practice for all pupils and teachers in Nuneaton.
- Attracting and retaining high quality teaching and support staff who have remained exceptionally resilient through the tough COVID years and are highly committed to all our academies.
“In making this decision we are enabling our academies to take the next positive steps on their improvement journey, and we firmly believe this represents the best way forward for our academies, their staff, pupils, and the wider community at this time.
“Subject to successful completion of due diligence and approval by the DfE Regional Director, it is expected that the transfer process will be completed by the early autumn 2023. In the months ahead, we will work with United Learning to support a smooth transfer of all four Midland Academies Trust schools to its extensive national, and very successful, network.”